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Gamevice Accepting Pre-Orders for New 'Flex' Gaming Controller for iPhone

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Gamevice today announced that it is now accepting pre-orders for its latest gaming controller, the Gamevice Flex, which is designed to accommodate iPhones with cases of all sizes so there is no need to remove the case to play.


The two sides of the Flex pull apart so that an iPhone can be placed in the middle, and then it closes around the sides of the iPhone for a secure fit. There is a built-in Lightning port for the iPhone version that allows for a connection to the Gamevice app.

Gamevice designed the Flex with an Xbox controller layout, so it will be familiar to Xbox fans, plus the company says it has been created with enhanced ergonomics for more comfortable gameplay sessions. There are full-sized joysticks, hall effect triggers, a headphone jack, and a built-in Lightning connector for charging the iPhone though a passthrough USB-C port.

iPhone users can play any game that supports gaming controllers with the Gamevice Flex.

The Gamevice Flex is available for pre-order as of today and it will launch on October 25. Preorders come with a free one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Article Link: Gamevice Accepting Pre-Orders for New 'Flex' Gaming Controller for iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/10/04/gamevice-flex-preorders-available/
how come they never came out with a clamp style controller that uses Bluetooth rather than direct lightning port connection? Something like the ipega brand but is mfi compliant. i would think it would be a more popular setup.
 
I'm loving the competition in this area lately! More options are always great!

There're also some really cool projects using 3d printers and the newly-supported Nintendo Joy-cons, some even connecting to iPads!

Great time to be a nerd. 🤓
 
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Sharkbait0000 said:
how come they never came out with a clamp style controller that uses Bluetooth rather than direct lightning port connection? Something like the ipega brand but is mfi compliant. i would think it would be a more popular setup.
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They do, Gamesir and other companies make them. Problem is, some people don't like the input latency from bluetooth controllers, that and you need to consistently charge them; whereas these controller has no latency and are powerd by the phone itself.
 
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mrat93 said:
Is it compatible with iPhone 15?
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The impending eu mandated switch to usb-c makes me hesitant as well to buying a $100+ lightning connector gamepad.

I feel a bit burned with my previous mfi controllers as well, as apple changed the spec to include clickable thumbsticks and such after I purchased the original versions. (I will admit the spec changes were needed, but should have been a part of the spec from day 1.)

I feel the best option nowdays is a separate Xbox Series controller (or playstation controller if you like that style of thumb sticks better.). Unfortunately they become awkward and unbalanced with aftermarket cell phone holder add-ins, the Xbox controllers are much better paired with a stationary iPad.
 
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WestonHarvey1 said:
What is even worth playing on iOS that benefits from a full on XBox style controller?
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Steam link let's me hook up to my PC and with an iPhone 13 with 5G I can game from my PC pretty much anywhere.

Native Gameloft has always done good stuff with the controller. Both the Asphalt and Dungeoon Hunter series are solid games and use controllers well.

Square Enix is probably the other best in terms of using the controller. Their catalog is a bit more focused but still high quality games that showcase the controller well. Look at Adventures of Mana in particular.

Oh, and while it doesn't use the controller to its fullest I suppose. Stardew Valley because...
 
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Richdmoore said:
The impending eu mandated switch to usb-c makes me hesitant as well to buying a $100+ lightning connector gamepad.

I feel a bit burned with my previous mfi controllers as well, as apple changed the spec to include clickable thumbsticks and such after I purchased the original versions. (I will admit the spec changes were needed, but should have been a part of the spec from day 1.)

I feel the best option nowdays is a separate Xbox Series controller (or playstation controller if you like that style of thumb sticks better.). Unfortunately they become awkward and unbalanced with aftermarket cell phone holder add-ins, the Xbox controllers are much better paired with a stationary iPad.
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MFi controllers have been a scam from Day 1, IMO. They have manufacturers create expensive, crappy, and proprietary controllers that ONLY work with a couple of iPhone models — and this goes on for a few years until Apple adds compatibility for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

Was it worth it? Probably, for Apple, since they got millions in MFi royalties while customers shelled out $100 for controllers that won’t work with their phone in 2-3 years.
 
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mrat93 said:
MFi controllers have been a scam from Day 1, IMO. They have manufacturers create expensive, crappy, and proprietary controllers that ONLY work with a couple of iPhone models — and this goes on for a few years until Apple adds compatibility for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

Was it worth it? Probably, for Apple, since they got millions in MFi royalties while customers shelled out $100 for controllers that won’t work with their phone in 2-3 years.
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You mean all iPhone models since iPhone 5?
 
I've been looking at getting one of these for a while now, I just don't like the x-box style of analog sticks not being symmetrical, its weird, for me, to have one thumb up high and one down low.
 
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gaximus said:
You mean all iPhone models since iPhone 5?
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Maybe I’m wrong because I haven’t seriously looked at an MFi controller since the first couple came out, but I’d venture to say that many have awkward fittings with certain models. I remember my first MFi controller being useless when I got my iPhone 6.
 
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mrat93 said:
MFi controllers have been a scam from Day 1, IMO. They have manufacturers create expensive, crappy, and proprietary controllers that ONLY work with a couple of iPhone models — and this goes on for a few years until Apple adds compatibility for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

Was it worth it? Probably, for Apple, since they got millions in MFi royalties while customers shelled out $100 for controllers that won’t work with their phone in 2-3 years.
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I dunno. My old Mad Catz controller (admittedly, it was the cheap one at $65 so with you on pricing) still works over half a decade later even though the company is now defunct...

And it's worth noting Apple didn't get paid anything directly for folks that implemented MFi in their controllers. MFi wasn't licensed. It was, however, a specification and quality bar manufacturers had to meet. The one exception to this was you had to pay a fairly small fee when you submitted your controller to Apple for testing (which was required to function and brand as MFi). Every certification does this to cover costs but it isn't a profit point.
The other point you could argue is that Apple charges developers support costs but they don't tend to make a lot of money here either. Maintaining and staffing a support network is not cheap and you want to keep costs low to encourage more of an ecosystem.
Apple's hubris in establishing MFi when the xinput standard was already well established was pretty foolish though. Establishing a quality certification is good but there was no need for a new input standard. They could have just as easily taken xinput controllers and allowed current manufacturers to submit them for cert. Woulda made things a lot cheaper in the beginning...
 
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WestonHarvey1 said:
What is even worth playing on iOS that benefits from a full on XBox style controller?
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my company is actually launching a game on the app store next year, the playability of the game requires many inputs at once and we had a tough time figuring out how to get it to work on the phone without obstructing view from your fingers. this control pad style is our answer.
 
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